Braiding machine



P. W. DALRYMPLE BRAIDING MACHINE s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1923 June 1 1926 June 1 ,1926. 1,587,150

P. W. DALRYMPLE BRAIDING MACHINE Filed octl 9 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1 1926.

P. w. DALRYMPLE BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9,

1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1 1926. 1,587,150

P. w. DALRYMPLE 'BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1 1926.

DALRYMPLE BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FEE]- 'P P TU ATTDRPIE Patented June 1, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT PH ILIP W. DALRYMPLE, F NE'i/VTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR- TO SAMSON CORD AGE W'ORKS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPGRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

Application filed October 9, 1923. Serial No. 667,581

In the common commercial terms of braiding machines, the spools which hold the supplies oi thread or cord to be braided are arranged to move around each other in paths which are more or less sinuous. This fact, and the intermittent or reciprocating motions which necessarily are used in such machines, are disadvantageous both because they seriously limit the speed of operation of such machines, and also because they result in rapid wear and depreciation of the machine.

It is the chief object of the present invention to devise a braiding machine which will avoid these objections. The invention is especially directed to the provision of a machine in which a. much higher rate of production can be realized than has been possible in prior machines and in which wear and depreciation shall be reduced to a minimum.

The nature of the invention will be read- .ily understood from the following descrip tion when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross section, of a machine embodying the invention in the form at present preferred; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a plan view showing the relationship between certain of the thread carriers and the keeper or gate which holds them properly spaced;

Fig. 4 1s a cross sectional View through 4 one of the keepersor gates;

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the relative directions of motion of the more important parts of the machine;

Fig. 6 is across sectional'view through certain of the slides showing their relationship to the keepers or gates; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing the nature of the cord made in this machine.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the relation of the rotary fliers to the slides.

The machine shown comprises a spider 2 mounted to rotate about a central stationary column 3 which is supported on a base i. The spider is mounted on the upper end oi a tubular bearing sleeve 5 which is supported on the column 3 by a ball bearing 6, Fig. 2. The lower end of the sleeve 5 has a bevel gear section 7 formed thereon which is driven by a bevel gear 8 mounted fast on the driving shaft 9. A pulley 1O ismounted loosely on this shaft by means of which the machine may be-driven from any suitable source of power, and a cone clutch 12 is pro vided to operatively connect or disconnect the shaft and pulley. A rotary table 14: is carried by the sleeve 5 and has a series of pins 15 projecting upwardly therefrom, each designed to receive a spool 16. The individual strands of thread or cord drawn from these spools are led through suitable tension or let-oil devices 17 and pass, respectively, through fliers or hollow thread guiding arms 18 which are mounted directly above the spools. Each. of these arms is carried by a gear or pinion 19 having an elongated hub or shank which is rotatably mounted in one arm of the spider 2. From the ends of these fliers or guides 18 the threads are led to a central overhead die block 20, and thence to a winch 21 which may be of the form commonly used in prior machines.

In the machine shown six spools 16 are mounted on the table 14 and six rota ing arms or fliers 18 are supported by the spider 2. It should be noted that these six fliers 1.8 and their pinions are arranged in a circular series about the axis of the column 3, and that they all are inclined inwardly at such an angle that their axes point substantially to the die block 20, although this particular angular arrangement is not essential.

Another circular series of thread carriers consisting of a plurality of slides 24: is arranged co-aXially with the first series of carriers, the individual carriers 18 alternating with the slides or carriers 24. Each of these slides 24: has a pin 25 projecting inwardly therefrom to receive a spool 26 which also holds a supply of thread or cord. Each slide also carries a guide 27 and tension device through which the thread is led from its spool 26 andis guided to the die 20. The slides 24 are mounted in an annular grooved guideway which is formed between the outer edge of a central ported disk 28 and the inner edge of an outer ported ring 80, the ports in the disk 28 being indicated at 31 while those in the ring are indicated at 32. The hub of each gear .19 is extended inwardly, as shown at 33, (see particularly Figs. 3, 4 and 6 to provide an arc-shaped keeper or gate adapted to engage correspondingly shaped grooves 34 formed in the ends of the next adjacent slides 24 and thus serve to hold the slides properly spaced apart in the guideway. This arrangement compels the slides to rotate about the central axis of the machine in unison with the gears 19 and carriers 18 as these parts are carried around by the spider 2.

The ring 30 and disk 28 are rotated in opposite directions, the disk rotating in the same direction as the spider 2, while the ring rotates in the opposite direction. For this purpose the ring 30 is supported on balls 36 mounted in a circular ball race which is formed on annular flange 37 that projects inwardly from the stationary frame ring 38. This ring is supported on posts 39, Fig. 2, carried by the base 4. One or more gears 10, Fig. 2, are mounted on stub shafts supported in the stationary ring 38 and mesh both with an annular gear 41 formed integral with the spider 2 and also with another annular gear -12 formed on the outer edge of the ring 30. Consequently, as the spider 2 is revolved, the ring 30 is rotated in an opposite direction.

The gears or pin'ions 19, previously re ferred to, mesh with a ring gear t3, Fig. 1, formed on the inner edge of the flange 37, so that as these pinions are rotated in an orbital path by the spider 2, they are compelled to rotate on their individual axes due to their engagement with the ring gear 4-3. In other words, they have a planetary motion. Fast on the shank of one of these gears 19 is a bevel gear 44, Fig. 2, which drives a bevel gear 4-5 that is secured to the hub of the ported disk 28. These gears, therefore, operate to rotate the member 28 in the same direction as the spider 2 but at a different speed therefrom.

The relative directions of rotations of the different elements of the machine may be readily seen from an inspection of Fig. 5.

The operation of the machine will be understood from the following: It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the part 14 moves clockwise and this movement is given to it by the gear 8 meshing with the gear connected with the table let. The hollow shaft 5 is a part of the table as shown and carries at its upper end the spider 2 so that the table 14 and the spider move together in a clockwise direction, the spider carrying the thread guides 18 integral with the gear or pinion 19 so that these thread guides are also moved as a unit in a clockwise direction.

The second set of bobbins is mounted on a set of slide pieces 24. These slide pieces are given a motion also clockwise about their tracks but at a different speed from the thread guides 18, this movement being given them by the gears 19 because each gear has an inward continuation of its hub called the gate 33; that is, one side of this continuation of the hub is longer than the other side (see Fig. 4), so that at the proper time a passage will be open between the slides to allow a thread guide 18 to pass a port 31 to a port 32. Each slide 24 has grooves 341 in which these projections or gates run, the gates being always in contact with one or both of the adjacent slides so that the slides are always maintained at a given distance apart, and are moved continuously by the gates as the spider 2 moves and also in a clockwise direction. Each slide is always in engagement with one of the gates. The movement of the thread guide 18 is so timed that it passes into a port 32 between the T- shaped projection of the ring 30 and then out again through the same opening into one of the ports 31 in the central disk and out again, then across into a port 32, etc, the movement of the ring 30 continuing at all times. Thus in the rotation of each guide 18 round the axis of the gear 19 it passes round one of the spools mounted on the peg 25.

Assuming that the machine is in operation, and considering for the moment any individual thread carrier 18, for example that shown in Fig. 3, it will be observed that as the slides 241 and gears 19 move in a clockwise direction around the central axis of the machine, the arm 18 is rotated in a countenclockwise direction, and it swings around the two slides 24- which are engaged by its gate 33. Consequently, this arm 18, Fig. 3, rotates the thread or cord which it carries around both of the spools carried by the slides 2421 of said figure. The same is true of each of the other arms 18. The keepers or gates 33 are so shaped, and their movements are so timed, that each gate opens in time to allow the end of the arm of the next adjacent thread carrier 18 to pass through between the slides. At this moment the two slides which are released by the opening of the gate are held properly spaced by their engagement with the gates or keepers at their opposite ends. Immediately after an arm passes through a gate it closes and again resumes its function of connecting the two slides at opposite sides thereof and holding them properly spaced.

The movement of these gates and the rotation of the ported members 28 and 30 is s timed that an arm passes from one of the outer ports 32 in the ring 30, through a gate, and into one of the inner ports 31 in the central disk 28, the inner and outer ports, at this time, being approximately in register. The arm then moves in the same general direction that the disk is travelling until it reaches the next gate, which opens in time for it to pass out and into another port 32 in the outer ring 30. While in this port the arm moves in the same general direction that the ring is moving; These operations continue so long as the machine 18 running.

The result of these relative movements of the two series of thread carriers is to rotate each thread of one series around two next adjacent carriers of the other series. This intertwines or interlaces the threads, making a so-called sash cord braid. Referring to Fig. 7, which shows diagrammatically the nature of the braid, it will be seen that each strand of thread or cord passes first under and then over two other strands. The strand 6?, for example, passes under the strands b and c and then over both of these strands, while the strand (Z passes under the strands c and and then over them. All the strands or ends move in the same general direction.

In making a braided cord of this type, it is common to use a core and this core may be conveniently fed through the central hole 47, Fig. 2, in the stationary post 3 and then led through the die 20. The entire cord is condensed, tightened and consolidated by being drawn through the die 20.

It will now be observed that every moving part of this machine rotates continuously and at a substantially constant speed for any given speed of the shaft 9. All reciprocating, ntermittent, and irregular motionshave been eliminated. Consequently,

the machine can be run at very much higher speeds than the usual commercial machines, and wear and depreciation are reduced to a minimun'i. A further advantage of this construction is that it accommodates larger spools or thread bodies than the present commercial machines, and it therefore ef fects an economy in labor since the machine does not have to be stopped as frequently for replenislnnent of the thread supply.

It is contemplated that suitable thread tensioning devices will be associated with each spool, and that mechanism Will be provided to stop the machine automatically in case any thread or end breaks. Such devices and mechanisms are common, however, in this art, and consequently they have not been illustrated.

While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of my invention that I have so far devised, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. It will also be understood that machines embodying features of this invention can be designed to make other braids than that for which the present machine is particularly designed. The thread, cord, or other strands of material being braided together are referred to in the claims as thread, but this term is used in a generic sense to include any strands of material being braided.

' Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a braiding machine, two sets of thread carriers located at different levels one set having independently rotatable iiiers and both sets being mounted concentrically the carriers of one set being located in staggeret relation to those of the other set, and means connecting said rotatabie iiiers with the set of carriers not havingfiiers whereby said fliers as they rotate wiil cause the movement of the latter set of carriers and both sets ofcarriers will move in the same direction.

2. In a braiding machine, two circularly movable series of thread carriers, the individual carriers of one series being located in staggered relation to those of the other set, supporting means for each series whereby the individual carriers of one series will be maintained in stationary relation to the individual carriers of the other, one of said series having fliers independently rotatable to carry threads around carriers of the other series, and connections between said fliers and said other series whereby said other series of carriers will be moved in the same direction as the axes of said fliers.

in a braiding machine, the combination of two circular series of thread vcar'iers, the individual carriers of one series being maintained in staggered relation with those of the other series, the carriers of the second series each including arota-ry thread gniding arm, operable to pass thread around the two next adjacent carriers of the other series, means for rotating both series of carriers in the same direction around a common axis, supporting members between which the carriers of the first series are mounted, and means for rotating said members in opposite directions, said members having ports to receive said arms as they rotate around the carriers of the first series.

a. In a braiding machine, two sets of thread carrier supports mounted to be moved concentrically in the same direction, the mounting for one set of carriers comprising two concentric members rotating in opposite directions and co-operating to form a guideway between them, said last-named set of carriers being located to be moved in said guideway, said concentric members being provided with ports, said other set of thread carriers carrying thread guides each shaped and arranged to rotate through said ports and around each of the thread carriers of the first set.

5. in a braiding machine, the combination of a central rotatable member having ports therein, an outer ring rotatable in a direc tion opposite to the direction of rotation of said member and having ports therein, said member and ring cooperating to form an annular guideway between them, a series of thread carriers slidably mounted in said guideway, a second series of thread carriers arranged to have a planetary movement and operative to guide their threads around the individual threads of the first series of carriers, and operating mechanism for said parts whereby said two series of carriers will be moved in the same direction.

6. In a braiding machine, the combination of a circular series of slides, each constructed to support a thread body, inner and outer members forming an annular guideway in which said slides are mounted, a eries of thread carriers each including an arm rotatable and located to pass a thread around the slides adjacent thereto, said members having registering ports to receive said arms, gates between adjacent slides normally holding them in spaced relationship, means for operating said gates to'permit the passage of said arms from one port to another as the arms rotate around said carriers and mechanism for rotating said members in opposite directions.

7 In a braiding machine, the con'ibination of a circular series of slides each adapted to support a thread body, a circular series of rotatable thread carriers alternating with said slides and each including a rotary arm, a rotary support for said thread carriers, a central rotatable member having ports there in to receive said arms as they rotate, an outer ring rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said members and having ports also adapted to receive said arms as they rotate, said member and ring cooperating to form an annular guide way in which said slides are mounted, and means for utilizing the rotary motion of said support to rotate said member and ring.

8. In a braiding machine, the combination of acircular series of slides each adapted to support a thread body, a circular series of rotatable thread carriers alternating wit-h said slides and each including a rotary arm, a rotary support for said thread carriers, a central rotatable member having ports therein to receive said arms as they rotate, an outer ring rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said members and having ports also adapted to receive said arms as they rotate, said member and ring cooperating to term an annular guideway in which said slides are mounted, each of said thread carriers having a pinion rotating therewith, a ring gear meshing with all of said pinions and rotating them on their individual axes, gear connections between said support and said outer ring for rotating said ring, and additional gear connections be tween one of said pinions and said central member {or rotating said member.

9. A braiding machine of the kind described comprising separate setsof strand supplies located at different levels, the strand supplies of one set being located alternately with the strand supplies of the other set about a common axis, means for rotating both sets in the same direction, one of said sets being supported and being rotated. as a unit, and the other set comprising bobbins and fliers and means for rotating each flier whereby each flier will deliver its strands about strands from the adjacent bobbins ot' the other set.

PHILIP W. DALRYMPLE. 

